Multi-functional child care storage and inner case thereof

ABSTRACT

A child care storage for storing an infant food and/or product includes a plurality of functional compartments for refrigerating, heating and/or sterilizing the infant food and/or product in a main body, wherein the plurality of the functional compartments include a refrigerating compartment and a sterilizing compartment; and a control unit for controlling the plurality of the functional compartments. The plurality of the functional compartments includes a refrigerating compartment. The refrigerating compartment, partitioned by partitions in the main body, includes a refrigerating space capable of being opened and closed by a first door and refrigerates the refrigerating space by a thermoelectric element.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a multi-functional child care storage and an inner case thereof; and, more particularly, to a multi-functional child care storage including a plurality of functional compartments for storing or treating infant food or infant products in various ways, and an inner case thereof capable of preventing a leakage of an insulating material charged between the inner case and an outer case of the multi-functional child care storage, while minimizing a deformation of the outer case that might be caused by a load or an impact imposed thereon from the outside.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In general, a refrigerator is used to keep food or beverage in a refrigerated or frozen state for a long time or to cool them rapidly. The refrigerator includes a freezer compartment and a refrigerator compartment opened or closed by individual front doors. To supply cool air to the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment, the refrigerator has a cooling cycle involving a compressor, a condenser, a capillary tube and a cooling device. The compressor compresses a coolant at a high temperature and a high pressure, and provides thus compressed coolant to the condenser. Then, the condenser converts the compressed coolant into a liquid state of a low temperature and a low pressure by releasing heat of the coolant. The low-temperature low-pressure liquid coolant is then converted into a liquid state of a low temperature and a high pressure while it passes through the capillary tube. The low-temperature high-pressure liquid coolant is then directed to the cooling device installed at a rear side of the freezer compartment. The coolant sent to the cooling device is converted into a low-pressure state again while it passes through a coolant pipe of the cooling device, and finally evaporates, thereby reducing the temperature of the freezer compartment and the refrigerator compartment.

Recently, with a rise in the standard of living, there have been increasing demands for diversified types of special-purpose refrigerators. Developed to meet such needs and commonly used are, for example, a kimchi refrigerator equipped with an evaporation pipe and a heating wire for the ripening of kimchi, a cosmetic cooler for storing cosmetics at a low temperature by cooling a cosmetic storage compartment with a relatively small volume by means of a thermoelectric element, and so forth.

Though such various types of special-purpose refrigerators have been developed, developments have rarely been made upon a storage apparatus for an exclusive use in baby or child care.

If infant food or infant products such as powdered milk, breast milk, medicine and the like are stored in a conventional household refrigerator, they will be soaked with the odors of other foods stored in the refrigerator. As a result, the quality of the infant food or the infant products will be deteriorated and, even worse, hygienic problems may be resulted. Furthermore, in case of using a microwave to warm up, e.g., milk, the milk has to be warmed up, and it is difficult to maintain the temperature of the milk at a desired temperature for a long period of time. Also, purchasing a heating cabinet to warm up the milk or store the warm milk is not economical because the heating cabinet is just for heating and cannot be utilized for other purposes. Furthermore, since the heating cabinet is designed to be used in commercial environments such as hospitals, pharmacies, restaurants, and so forth, it is not suitable for use in home for the purpose of child care.

Moreover, given that a general household sterilizing device is usually designed to be used in sterilizing kitchenware such as dishware or utensils, using it to sterilize infant supplies such as feeding bottles, handkerchiefs, toys and the like is not proper.

Korean Patent Application No. 2004-71011 discloses a multi-functional Showcase Refrigerator including a sterilizing device, a heating cabinet and an air purifier. This refrigerator is configured to include various apparatuses necessary for restaurant businesses and is centrally controllable by a microcomputer. Though this product can improve user's convenience by providing various functions, it is of a large capacity and its structure and functions are customized for commercial uses. Thus, it does not have features suitable for child care purpose.

Also, there have been proposed many sterilizing devices for sterilizing infant products, particularly, feeding bottles. One of them is, for example, a UV sterilizing device described in Korean Patent Application No. 2003-92985. However, most of these sterilizing devices are only for disinfecting feeding bottles, and they do not have a storage function for storing various infant products appropriately.

Therefore, it is necessary to develop a product capable of storing baby food or products appropriately in various ways. Breaking from the conventional conception of electronic appliances designed and distributed for housewives or adult life, it is necessary to find a new customer group and open up a new market for a refrigerator. In other words, it is required to develope a multi-functional child care storage including a plurality of functional compartments for storing or treating infant food or infant products in various ways.

Further, if the multi-functional child care storage is configured such that it includes an inner case in which the plurality of the functional compartments are formed and a front-opened outer case for accommodating the inner case therein, a liquid state insulating material injected into a space between the inner case and the outer case to insulate the functional compartments from each other may leak outside before it is solidified by, e.g., a catalytic reaction, so that time and effort are required for dealing with this. Besides, since the child care storage is of a small size compared to conventional refrigerator products, its case may be easily deformed by a torsion due to a load imposed thereon. Therefore, an inner case of a multi-functional child care storage is also needed to solve such problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, a first object of the present invention to provide a multi-functional child care storage including a plurality of functional compartments for storing or treating infant food or infant products in various ways. By using this multi-functional child-care storage which enables various treatments of infant food or products within a single apparatus, the time and effort required for child care can be reduced, thus improving user convenience.

It is a second object of the present invention to provide an inner case of a multi-functional child care storage in which a plurality of functional compartments is formed, the inner case being capable of preventing a leakage of liquid insulating material charged in a space between the inner case and an outer case, and also capable of minimizing a deformation of the outer case due to a load or an impact imposed thereon by supporting and reinforcing the inner surface of the outer case.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a child care storage for storing an infant food and/or product, including: a plurality of functional compartments for refrigerating, heating and/or sterilizing the infant food and/or product in a main body, wherein the plurality of the functional compartments include a refrigerating compartment and a sterilizing compartment; and a control unit for controlling the plurality of the functional compartments.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an inner case of a child care storage to be installed in an outer case whose front surface is opened, the outer case including a plurality of functional compartments for providing a space for refrigerating infant foods to be kept therein and a space for double-boiling or sterilizing infant products, wherein the inner case includes: a main body connected to the outer case, in which a front panel having thereon a U-shaped groove, a first functional compartment distanced apart from an inner side surface of the outer case, and a closed space between the main body and the outer case to be charged with an insulating material; and a reinforcement plate connected to a rear side of the groove of the main body to close a top portion of the closed space, wherein the reinforcement plate is U-shaped such that a second functional compartment is extended toward the rear side of the groove to be distanced apart from the first functional compartment, and wherein the reinforcement plate has supporting portions on two opposite sides thereof to support inner side surfaces of the outer case.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments given in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-functional child-care storage in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 sets forth a perspective view of the multi-functional child-care storage in accordance with the first preferred embodiment showing a state where its doors are opened;

FIG. 3 depicts a front view showing the interior configuration of the multi-functional child care storage in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 presents a block diagram for controlling the multi-functional child care storage in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 provides a side cross sectional view of a refrigerating compartment of the multi-functional child care storage in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 shows a partial side cross sectional view of a heating compartment of the multi-functional child care storage in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 illustrates a partial side cross sectional view of a sterilizing compartment of the multi-functional child care storage in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a water receptacle and a water outlet of the multi-functional child care storage in accordance with the first preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9 provides a block diagram for controlling a multi-functional child care storage in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 illustrates a side cross sectional view of a refrigerating/heating compartment of the multi-functional storage of the child care storage in accordance with the second preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a front perspective view of an inner case of a multi-functional child care storage in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 sets forth an exploded rear perspective view of the inner case of the multi-functional child care storage in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention; and

FIG. 13 provides a perspective view showing an installation state of the inner case of the multi-functional child care storage in accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings so that they can be readily implemented by those skilled in the art.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-functional child care storage in accordance with a first preferred embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 presents a perspective view of same showing a state where its doors are opened. FIG. 3 sets forth a front view showing the interior of the multi-functional storage and FIG. 4 provides a block diagram for controlling the multi-functional child care storage.

As shown in the figures, the multi-functional child care storage 100 includes a plurality of functional compartments in a main body 110 thereof. The functional compartments include a refrigerating compartment 120, a heating compartment 130 and a sterilizing compartment 140 for refrigerating, heating and sterilizing infant food or products, respectively. Also, the multi-functional child care storage 100 has a control unit 150 for controlling the functional compartments 120 to 140.

Inside the main body 110, a refrigerating space 121, a heating space 131 and a sterilizing space 141 are formed by partitioning the interior of the main body 110 by partitions 111. Each partition 111 and a wall 112 of the storage 110 incorporate thermal insulators therein. The sterilizing space 141 is usually formed such that its volume is smaller than those of the refrigerating space 121 and the heating space 131 for the reason of its function and purpose.

The functional compartments include at least one of the refrigerating compartment 120, at least one of the heating compartment 130, and at least one of the sterilizing compartment 140, wherein the number of the refrigerating compartment 120, the heating compartment 130 and/or the sterilizing compartment 140 can be appropriately increased depending on necessity.

The refrigerating compartment 120 has a first door 123 for opening or closing the refrigerating space 121. In the refrigerating space 121, shelves 128 and a storage drawer 163 are detachably installed. Also, a first thermoelectric element 122 for cooling the refrigerating space 121 is installed on the rear side of the refrigerating space 121.

Referring to FIG. 5, the first thermoelectric element 122 emits heat and cool air from its two opposite sides, respectively, when power is supplied thereto. An heat absorbing plate 124 is installed on one side of the first thermoelectric element 122 facing the refrigerating space 121 to cool down the refrigerating space 121, whereas an heat radiating plate 125 is disposed on the opposite side thereof. Thus, the cool air emitted from the first thermoelectric element 122 is introduced into the refrigerating space 121 via the heat absorbing plate 124, while the heat from the first thermoelectric element 122 is discharged opposite to the refrigerating space 121 via the heat radiating plate 125. Furthermore, to allow the cool air from the first thermoelectric element 122 to be diffused rapidly throughout the refrigerating space 121, a cool air diffusion plate 126 formed of, e.g., aluminum having a high thermal conductivity is installed on the heat absorbing plate 124 such that it is exposed to the refrigerating space 121.

As shown in FIG. 5, the refrigerating compartment 120 further includes a first heat radiation fan 127 installed on the heat-emitting side of the first thermoelectric element 122, i.e., on the side of the heat radiating plate 125. The first heat radiation fan 127 discharges the heat of the first thermoelectric element 122 to the outside through heat exhaust openings 114 of main body 110. Also, the main body 110 has air inlets 115 through which exterior air is suctioned into the main body 110 by the first heat radiation fan 127.

The heating compartment 130 has a second door 133 for opening or closing the heating space 131. A first heater 132 for heating or warming up the heating space 131 is installed in the heating compartment 130.

As illustrated in FIG. 6, the first heater 132 is installed at a rear side of the heating space 131, and it serves as a heating block incorporating a heating wire that emits heat when power is supplied thereto. Further, a heat diffusion plate 134 made of, e.g., aluminum having a high thermal conductivity is connected to the first heater 132's side facing the heating space 130. The heat diffusion plate 134 is exposed to the heating space 131 to diffuse the heat from the first heater 132 into the heating space 131 rapidly. In addition, the heating compartment 130 is equipped with a first timer 135 for setting an operating time of the first heater 132.

The sterilizing compartment 140 is provided with a third door 143 for opening or closing the sterilizing space 141. A sterilizing device 142 is installed inside the sterilizing compartment 140 to sterilize items loaded in the sterilizing space 141.

Though an ozone generator or an anion generator may be employed as the sterilizing device 142, it is preferable to use a light emitting diode for irradiating ultraviolet rays with a comparatively high safety or to use an ultraviolet lamp. Further, in this embodiment, to allow the ultraviolet rays emitted from the ultraviolet lamp serving as the sterilizing device 142 to be irradiated to the sterilizing space 141 indirectly, a blocking layer 144 is attached to the outside of the sterilizing device 142.

Referring to FIG. 7, a drying device 145 is disposed at one side of the sterilizing space 141 of the sterilizing compartment 140 to dry the items loaded therein. Specifically, the drying device 145 includes a second heater 145 a for emitting heat and a heat diffusion fan 145 b for diffusing the heat generated from the second heater 145 a throughout the sterilizing space 141.

The sterilizing compartment 140 is also equipped with a switch 146 for operating at least one of the sterilizing device 142 and the drying device 145 or both of them at the same time; and a second timer 147 for setting an operating time of the sterilizing device 142 and/or the drying device 145.

As shown in FIG. 8, inside the sterilizing compartment 140, at least one grill-shaped shelf 148 and a storage drawer 163 are detachably installed in the sterilizing space 141. Further, a water receptacle 149 is detachably disposed below the lowermost shelf 148. Also, the sterilizing compartment 140 has a water collecting portion 161 for collecting water, and the water collecting portion 161 is provided with a water outlet 162 for exhausting the water. The water outlet 162 is connected to a water drain line 164, and the water from the water outlet 162 is sent to the evaporation vessel 129 in the refrigerating compartment 120 via the water drain line 164.

The evaporation vessel 129 is installed at a rear side of the refrigerating space 121, more specifically, at a location contacting a heat travel path through which the heat from the thermoelectric element 122 is transferred by the first heat radiation fan 127, i.e., below an air flow path through which the air blown by the first heat radiation fan 127 is moved toward the heat exhaust openings 114 via a duct 116. Thus, the water introduced into the evaporation vessel 129 through the water drain line 164 can be readily evaporated by the heat from the thermoelectric element 122.

Meanwhile, the first to the third door 123, 133 and 143 of the refrigerating compartment 120, the heating compartment 130 and the sterilizing compartment 140, respectively can be configured to be opened or closed by being rotated in left/right direction or by being slid in forward/backward direction. In this embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the first and the third door 123 and 143 are opened or closed by being rotated in left/right direction, whereas the second door 133 is opened or closed by being slid in forward/backward direction. A tray 136 is installed at a rear side of the second door 133 to allow the second door 133 to be slid with respect to the heating space 130.

The control unit 150 controls the first heat radiation fan 127, and the second heater 145 a and the heat diffusion fan 145 b of the drying device 145 as well as controlling the operations of the thermoelectric element 122, the first heater 142 and the sterilizing device 142. That is to say, the control unit 150 receives signals from a first temperature sensor 151 shown in FIG. 5 for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerating space 121 and a refrigerating temperature input unit 152 for being inputted thereto a desired temperature for the refrigerating space 121, and then controls the thermoelectric element 122 such that the internal temperature of the refrigerating space 121 reaches the desired temperature inputted to the refrigerating temperature input unit 152. By using the refrigerating temperature input unit 152, preset refrigerating temperatures for food, medicine, cosmetics, and so forth can be selected. For example, the refrigerating temperatures for food, medicine and cosmetics can be set to be 3 degrees, 12 degrees and 15 degrees, respectively.

Further, the control unit 150 receives signals from a second temperature sensor 153 shown in FIG. 6 for detecting the internal temperature of the heating space 131 and a heating temperature input unit 154 for registering a desired temperature for the heating space 131, and controls the first heater 132 such that the internal temperature of the heating space 131 reaches the desired temperature inputted from the heating temperature input unit 154.

The control unit 150 receives a detection signal from a door opening detection sensor 155 for detecting whether the third door 143 is opened, wherein the door opening detection sensor 155 is installed at, e.g., a gate of the sterilizing space 141 and detects that the third door 143 is opened by contacting it. When a signal indicating that the third door 143 is opened is received, the control unit 143 stops the operation of the sterilizing device 142. Further, the control unit 142 drives the first heat radiation fan 127 when the sterilizing device 142 is being operated, thus allowing the water, which is supplied into the evaporation vessel 129 via the water drain line 164 after being exhausted from the sterilizing compartment 140 through the water outlet 162, to evaporate continuously.

Moreover, the control unit 150 receives a detection signal outputted from a third temperature sensor 156 shown in FIG. 7 installed in the sterilizing space 141 to detect the internal temperature thereof. If the internal temperature of the sterilizing space 141 is beyond a preset level, the control unit 150 stops the operation of the second heater 145 a.

The first and the second timer 135 and 147, the switch 146, the refrigerating temperature input unit 152, and the heating temperature input unit 154 can be installed inside the functional compartments 121 to 141 or in the main body 110. In this embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, they are installed at a control panel provided on the front surface of the second door 2. The control panel 158 has a display unit 157 for showing the control state of those components.

Below, an operation of the multi-functional child care storage having the above-described configuration will be explained.

In the refrigerating compartment 120, infant food (especially, breast milk), infant medicine, infant cosmetics and so forth are stored. The items loaded in the refrigerating compartment 120 are cooled by cool air diffused throughout the refrigerating space 121 by the heat absorbing plate 124 and the cool air diffusion plate 126 after being emitted from the thermoelectric element 122. At this time, the heat emitted from the thermoelectric element 122 is transferred to the heat radiating plate 125 to be discharged out through the heat exhaust openings 114 of the main body 110 by the operation of the first heat radiation fan 127.

The temperature of the refrigerating compartment 120 is varied by the amount of current supplied to the thermoelectric element 122, which is controlled by the control unit 150.

By receiving a detection signal from the first temperature sensor 151 for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerating space 121 and also an electric signal indicating a desired refrigerating temperature inputted to the refrigerating temperature input unit 152, the control unit 150 controls the thermoelectric element 122 such that the internal temperature of the refrigerating space 121 is maintained at the desired temperature. Further, the refrigerating temperature input unit 152 is configured such that the temperatures preset for the types of infant food or products, e.g., 13 degrees for food, 12 degrees for medicine and 15 degrees for cosmetics, can be inputted conveniently just by manipulating corresponding switches (not shown).

The heating compartment 130 is used to warm up milk, herbal medicine or the like or to keep them warm by the heat of the first heater 132. The operating time of the first heater 132, i.e., the time for warming up, e.g., milk or keeping it warm can be set by using the first timer 135. The control unit 150 receives a detection signal from the second temperature sensor 153 for detecting the internal temperature of the heating space 131 and an electrical signal outputted from the heating temperature input unit 154 for registering a desired heating temperature, and then controls the first heater 132 such that the internal temperature of the heating space 131 is maintained at the desired temperature level.

The sterilizing compartment 140 not only sterilizes the items such as feeding bottles, handkerchiefs and toys loaded in the sterilizing space 141 by means of the sterilizing device 142 such as a light emitting diode and a ultraviolet lamp but also dries the items by way of supplying the heat of the second heater 145 a into the sterilizing space 141 by means of the heat diffusion fan 145 b. Further, either one of the sterilizing function and the drying function or both of them can be selected by using the switch 146. The operating time of the sterilizing device 142 and/or the drying device 145 can be set by the second timer 147.

The water falling from, e.g., feeding bottles put on the grill-shaped shelf 148 in the sterilizing compartment 140 is collected in the water receptacle 149 to be emptied later. Alternatively, it is also possible to remove the water receptacle 149 and collect the water from the feeding bottles in the water collecting portion 161 directly, to thereby supply the water to the evaporation vessel 129 via the water outlet 162 and the water drain line 164 such that the water is evaporated by the heat emitted from the thermoelectric element 122. Meanwhile, to evaporate the water collected in the evaporation vessel 129 rapidly, the control unit 150 drives the first heat radiation fan 127 when the sterilizing device 142 is being operated, even though the thermoelectric element 122 is stopped.

When the third door 143 of the sterilizing compartment 140 is opened, a detection signal from the door opening detection sensor 155 is sent to the control unit 150. Then, the control unit 150 stops the operation of the sterilizing device 142 to prevent ultraviolet rays and the like to be radiated outside.

Furthermore, when the third temperature sensor 156 detects that the internal temperature of the sterilizing space 141 increases over a preset temperature, the control unit 150 stops the operation of the second heater 145 a, thus preventing the sterilizing space 141 from being overheated and avoiding an incurrence of danger.

In the following, a multi-functional child care storage in accordance with a second preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described.

The multi-functional child care storage of the second preferred embodiment has a same configuration as that of the first preferred embodiment, except that the heating compartment 130 is replaced by a refrigerating/heating compartment 130′, the heating space 131 is replaced by a refrigerating/heating space 131′ and the heating temperature input unit 154 is replaced by a refrigerating/heating temperature input unit 154′. Therefore, emements same as those in the first preferred embodiment will be given reference numerals same as those in the first preferred embodiment, and a description thereof will be omitted.

The refrigerating/heating compartment 130′ has a second door 133 for opening or closing the heating space 131. A first heater 132 for heating or warming up the refrigerating/heating space 131′ and a second thermoelectric element 137 for refrigerating the refrigerating/heating space 131′ are installed in the refrigerating/heating compartment 130′.

As illustrated in FIG. 10, the first heater 132 is installed at a rear side of the refrigerating/heating space 131′, and it serves as a heating block incorporating a heating wire that emits heat when power is supplied thereto. Further, a heat diffusion plate 134 made of, e.g., aluminum having a high thermal conductivity is connected to the first heater 132's side facing the refrigerating/heating space 131′. The heat diffusion plate 134 is exposed to the refrigerating/heating space 131′ to diffuse the heat from the first heater 132 into the refrigerating/heating space 131′ rapidly.

Referring to FIG. 10, the second thermoelectric element 137 is equipped with an heat absorbing plate 137 a on one side thereof and an heat radiating plate 137 b on the opposite side thereof. Further, a cool air diffusion plate 137 c is disposed to contact the heat absorbing plate 137 a, and a second heat radiation fan 138 is installed to discharge heat from the heat absorbing plate 137 a to an ourside through the heat exhaust openings 114 of the main body 110.

In addition, the refrigerating/heating compartment 130′ is equipped with a first timer 135 for setting operating times of the first heater 132 and/or the second thermoelectric element 137.

The control unit 150 controls the first and second heat radiation fan 127 and 138, and the second heater 145 a and the heat diffusion fan 145 b of the drying device 145 as well as controlling the operations of the first and second thermoelectric element 122 and 137, the first heater 142 and the sterilizing device 142. That is to say, the control unit 150 receives signals from a first temperature sensor 151 shown in FIG. 10 for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerating space 121 and a refrigerating temperature input unit 152 for registering a desired temperature for the refrigerating space 121, and then controls the thermoelectric element 122 such that the internal temperature of the refrigerating space 121 reaches the desired temperature inputted from the refrigerating temperature input unit 152. By using the refrigerating temperature input unit 152, preset refrigerating temperatures for food, medicine, cosmetics, and so forth can be selected. For example, the refrigerating temperatures for food, medicine and cosmetics can be set to be 3 degrees, 12 degrees and 15 degrees, respectively.

Further, the control unit 150 receives signals from a second temperature sensor 153 shown in FIG. 10 for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerating/heating space 131′ and a heating temperature input unit 154 for being inputted thereto a desired temperature for the refrigerating/heating space 131′, and controls the first heater 132 and the second thermoelectric element 137 such that the internal temperature of the refrigerating/heating space 131′ reaches the desired temperature inputted to the heating temperature input unit 154.

The refrigerating/heating compartment 130′ can be used to warm up milk, herbal medicine or the like, or to keep them warm by the heat of the first heater 132. In case the refigerating compartmenat 120 is filled up, the refrigerating/heating compartment 130′ can also be used to refigerate food, beverage or the like, or to keep them cool by the second thermoelectric element 137. The operating time of the first heater 132 or the second thermoelectric element 137 can be set by using the first timer 135. The control unit 150 receives a detection signal from the second temperature sensor 153 for detecting the internal temperature of the refrigerating/heating space 131′ and an electrical signal outputted from the heating temperature input unit 154 for being inputted thereto a desired heating temperature, and then controls the first heater 132 and the second thermoelectric element 137 such that the internal temperature of the refrigerating/heating space 131′ is maintained at the desired temperature level.

Since functions and operations of other elements of the child care storage of the second preferred embodiment is same as those of the first preferred embodiment, a description thereof will be omitted.

In accordance with the first and second preferred embodiments described above, infant food or products can be stored or treated in various ways in a single apparatus. Therefore, the convenience of user can be improved, and the time required for child care can be reduced.

Hereinafter, a third preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail.

Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, there are provided a front perspective view and an exploded rear perspective view of an inner case of a multi-functional child care storage in accordance with a third preferred embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 13 illustrates an installation state of the inner case. As shown in the figures, the inner case 200 of the multi-functional child-care storage in accordance with the present invention includes a main body 210 installed inside an outer case 300; and a reinforcement plate 220 connected to a top portion of the main body 210.

A front panel 212 is installed at an upper portion of the main body 210 such that it is located at an upper front end portion of the outer case 300 when the main body 210 of the inner case 300 is connected to the outer case 300. Further, the main body 210 includes at least one first functional compartment 211 distanced apart from the inner surface of the outer case 300, wherein the frontal portion of the first functional compartment 211 is opened. Also, a U-shaped groove 214 is formed on the front panel 212.

The main body 210 is put into a lower portion of the outer case 300 such that its front edge portion is hermetically connected with the front end portion of the outer case 300. Thus, there is formed a sealed space between the main body 210 and the inner surface of the outer case 300. The sealed space is charged with a liquid insulating material, and the liquid insulating material is then solidified by, e.g., a catalytic reaction.

To connect the main body 210 and the outer case 300 hermitically, a sealing member (not shown) made of, e.g., rubber can be formed at a joint portion therebetween. Further, it is also possible to form a protruding portion along the edge of the main body 210 and forcibly fit the protruding portion to the front end portion of the outer case 300 to connect the main body 210 and the outer case 300. Further, it is still possible to connect the main body 210 and the front end portion of the outer case 300 by using bolts and nuts.

When the main body 210 is installed in the outer case 300, the first functional compartment 211 is configured to be distanced apart from the inner surface of the outer case 300, thus forming a space between the main body 210 and the outer case 300, which space is to be charged with an insulating material. In addition, the main body 210 has a front door (not shown) opened or closed by being rotated. Further, the main body 210 is provided with a stepped portion 113 on which a bracket is installed for the installation of the front door.

By forming the reinforcement plate 220 to have a U-shape, it can be connected to a rear side of the groove 214 of the main body 210 to thereby close the top portion of the sealed space between the main body 210 and the outer case 300 hermetically. Accordingly, the leakage of the liquid insulating material through the sealed space can be prevented. Further, a second functional compartment 221 is extended toward the rear side of the groove 214 of the main body 210 such that it is distanced apart from the first functional compartment 211.

The first and the second functional compartment 211 and 221 formed in the main body 210 and the reinforcement plate 220 provide spaces for refrigerating, freezing or warming up infant foods or products or sterilizing infant products by using steam or heat. Accordingly, a cooling unit using a circulation of a coolant or a thermoelectric element, a double boiler using a heater or a thermoelectric element, a sterilizing device for emitting high-temperature steam or heat are installed at required positions between the inner case 200 and the outer case 200 and, also, in the first and the second functional compartments 211 and 221 to store the baby food or products in various ways.

To tightly connect the reinforcement plate 220 to the rear side of the groove 214 of the main body 210, a sealing member (not shown) made of, e.g., rubber is installed at a joint portion therebetween. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, in order to allow the reinforcement plate 220 to be connected with the groove 214 by using bolts and nuts, securing ribs 223 are formed along the front end portion of the reinforcement plate 220.

Moreover, to enhance safety when the rear end of the reinforcement plate 120 is brought into contact with the inner surface of the outer case 300, a guide shaped identical to that of the reinforcement plate 220 can be formed at an inner side of the outer case 300.

The reinforcement plate 220 has supporting portions 224 horizontally extended from its two opposite sides. The supporting portions 224 support the side surfaces of the outer case 300, thus preventing a deformation of the outer case 300 due to a load from the outside. Further, to hermetically seal the top portion of the sealed space formed between the main body 210 and the outer case 300, a sealing member (not shown) made of, e.g., rubber is provided at reinforcement plate 220's portions contacting the main body 210 as well as at the supporting portions 124. Also, the reinforcement plate 220 is provided with reinforcement member 222 at its front and rear side to prevent a torsion thereof.

The assembly and the function of the inner case of the multi-functional child care storage having the above-described configuration will be now be explained.

The main body 210 and the reinforcement plate 220 of the inner case 200 are coupled to each other by fastening them with a number of bolts (designated as “B”) and nuts (designated as “N”). Then, the assembly of the inner case 200 is connected to the outer case 300 such that the space formed between the main body 210, the reinforcement plate 220 and the outer case 200 is hermetically sealed. Afterward, a liquid insulating material is filled into this space through an injection opening (not shown) and the injection opening is hermetically closed lest the liquid insulating material leak therethrough. At this time, by fastening the main body 210 and the reinforcement plate 220 to each other firmly through the use of the bolts (B) and the nuts (N), the first and the second functional compartments 211 and 221 can be isolated from each other and the leakage of the insulating material can be restrained.

Moreover, by forming the reinforcement plate 120 in the U-shape, its front end portion can be firmly fixed on the main body 210, and its two side supporting portions 124 support and reinforce the inner surface of the outer case 300. As a result, a deformation of the outer case 300 due to a load or an impact from the outside can be minimized.

In accordance with the third preferred embodiment of the present invention as described above, the inner case of the multi-functional child care storage of the present invention has a plurality of functional compartments for treating (e.g., refrigerating or warming up) infant food or products. Further, the inner case serves to prevent a leakage of the insulating material charged in the space between the outer case and itself. Moreover, by configuring the inner case to support and reinforce the inner surface of the outer case, a deformation of the outer case that might be caused by a load or an impact from the outside can be minimized.

While the invention has been shown and described with respect to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

1. A child care storage for storing an infant food and/or product, comprising: a plurality of functional compartments for refrigerating, heating and/or sterilizing the infant food and/or product in a main body, wherein the plurality of the functional compartments include a refrigerating compartment and a sterilizing compartment; and a control unit for controlling the plurality of the functional compartments.
 2. The child care storage of claim 1, wherein the refrigerating compartment, partitioned by partitions in the main body, includes a refrigerating space capable of being opened and closed by a first door, and refrigerates the refrigerating space by a first thermoelectric element.
 3. The child care storage of claim 2, wherein the refrigerating compartment further includes a heat radiation fan for discharging heat of the first thermoelectric element to an outside through a heat exhaust opening formed in the main body, the heat radiation fan being installed on a heat-emitting side of the thermoelectric element.
 4. The child care storage of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the functional compartments further include a heating compartment, wherein the heating compartment, partitioned by partitions in the main body, includes a heating space capable of being opened and closed by a second door, and heats or keeps the heating space to be warm by a first heater.
 5. The child care storage of claim 1, wherein the plurality of the functional compartments further include a refrigerating/heating compartment, wherein the refrigerating/heating compartment, partitioned by partitions in the main body, includes a refrigerating/heating space capable of being opened and closed by a second door, and heats or keeps the refrigerating/heating space to be warm by a first heater or refrigerates the refrigerating/heating space by a second thermoelectric element.
 6. The child care storage of claim 1, wherein the sterilizing compartment, partitioned by partitions in the main body, includes a sterilizing space capable of being opened and closed by a third door, and sterilizes the sterilizing space by a sterilizing device.
 7. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the sterilizing compartment further includes a drying device for drying items stored in the sterilizing space on an inner side of the sterilizing space.
 8. The child care storage of claim 7, wherein the drying device has a second heater and a heat diffusion fan for diffusing heat generated from the second heater throughout the sterilizing space.
 9. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the sterilizing compartment further includes a grill-shaped shelf and a water receptacle detachably installed in the sterilizing space such that the water receptacle is located below the grill-shaped shelf.
 10. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the sterilizing compartment includes a grill-shaped shelf installed in the sterilizing space and a water outlet for collecting water flowing into the shelf to exhaust the collected water, and wherein the refrigerating compartment further includes an evaporation vessel for collecting the exhausted water flowing through the water outlet is installed at a location contacting a heat travel path through which heat generated from the first thermoelectric element is transferred.
 11. The child care storage of claim 2, wherein the control unit receives signals from a first temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature in the refrigerating space and a refrigerating temperature input unit for being inputted thereto a desired temperature for the refrigerating space to control the first thermoelectric element such that the internal temperature in the refrigerating space reaches the desired temperature inputted to the refrigerating temperature input unit.
 12. The child care storage of claim 11, wherein the refrigerating temperature input unit can be used for selecting a preset refrigerating temperature for food, medicine or cosmetics.
 13. The child care storage of claim 4, wherein the control unit receives signals from a second temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature in the heating space and a heating temperature input unit for being inputted thereto a desired temperature for the heating space to control the first heater such that the internal temperature in the heating space reaches the desired temperature inputted to the heating temperature input unit.
 14. The child care storage of claim 5, wherein the control unit receives signals from a second temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature in the refrigerating/heating space and a refrigerating/heating temperature input unit for being inputted thereto a desired temperature for the refrigerating/heating space to control the first heater and the second thermoelectric element such that the internal temperature in the refrigerating/heating space reaches the desired temperature inputted to the refrigerating/heating temperature input unit.
 15. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the control unit receives a detection signal from a door opening detection sensor installed in the sterilizing compartment for detecting whether the third door is opened, and stops the operation of the sterilizing device in response to the detection signal.
 16. The child care storage of claim 6, wherein the control unit receives an output signal outputted from a third temperature sensor for detecting an internal temperature of the sterilizing space, and, if the internal temperature of the sterilizing space is beyond a preset level, stops an operation of the second heater.
 17. The child care storage of claim 3, wherein the control unit drives the heat radiation fan when the sterilizing device is being operated.
 18. An inner case of a child care storage to be installed in an outer case whose front surface is opened, the outer case including a plurality of functional compartments for providing a space for refrigerating infant foods to be kept therein and a space for double-boiling or sterilizing infant products, wherein the inner case comprises: a main body connected to the outer case, in which a front panel having thereon a U-shaped groove, a first functional compartment distanced apart from an inner side surface of the outer case, and a closed space between the main body and the outer case to be charged with an insulating material; and a reinforcement plate connected to a rear side of the groove of the main body to close a top portion of the closed space, wherein the reinforcement plate is U-shaped such that a second functional compartment is extended toward the rear side of the groove to be distanced apart from the first functional compartment, and wherein the reinforcement plate has supporting portions on two opposite sides thereof to support inner side surfaces of the outer case.
 19. The inner case of claim 18, wherein the reinforcement plate has securing ribs formed along the front end portion to connect the reinforcement plate with the front panel of the main body by using bolts and nuts. 